One Llama's Fatal Ordeal - (Brown Recluse Spider Bite)

Jack and Tracy Pearson spent 3 weeks trying to save their 2 month old Cria from a Brown Recluse Spider Bite. The brown recluse spider is found mainly in the central Midwestern states southward to the Gulf of Mexico. After many years of raising hundreds of llamas, this was the first and hopefully the last time they will encounter with this type of injury. Tracy commented that due to the fuzzy little face they did not see any signs of a problem until it was to late, but they tried for 3 weeks to save her anyway.

The cria lost half her body weight in 2 weeks (after they discovered the first indication of a problem). As you will see from the pictures below, the spider bite was in the jaw. Her little face ended up with a large hole so she was unable to drink any liquid and eating became a problem. Tracy had to tube her to keep her hydrated, and with the help of loosely held gauze (using vet wrap to hold in place) they mixed a groul for feed. They orally drenched her mouth with peodolite. With a regiment of antiobiotics and constant care they thought they were starting to see some progress but she slipped backwards with the infection speading throughout her system. After 3 weeks her body shut down.

Click on each small thumbnail-photo below for an enlarged photo to open in a new window. (Please note that some of the photos shown below are very graphic and may not be appropriate for small children.)

We don't know of any other occurances of loosing a llama to a spider bite but incase you live in an area where this spiders thrives, we have included an fact sheet on the brown recluse spider for your information, from Ohio State University. - More Information on the Brown Recluse Spider -.